Daryl Maguire's ex-wife is a private but generous community volunteer who did not talk about the details of the pair's separation before beginning a new life interstate, a long-term friend has said.
Wagga Wagga City councillor Yvonne Braid said Maureen Maguire, 59, was committed to her family, while others have described her as being heavily involved in local politics before she and the disgraced Liberal MP parted ways several years ago.
Daryl Maguire's ex-wife Maureen.
"I think she would be helping anybody she could," Cr Braid said of Ms Maguire's life in Noosaville, on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, where she bought a home to be near her daughter Kara.
"If you were somebody who needed something she would be there for you."
Cr Braid said she had not seen Ms Maguire since she moved to Queensland, but said they had spoken of her plans to leave the area following the split, though did not go into details of the marriage breakdown.
"She was a lady who didn't talk about anything like that," she said.
Shirley Clarke, a former president of the Wagga Wagga women's branch of the Liberal Party, said Ms Maguire was a dedicated volunteer and admired by many people in the community.
"The Maguire family was held in very high esteem in Wagga," she said.
Details of Mr Maguire's family life have come to the fore since NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian revealed to the Independent Commission Against Corruption on Monday that she had a five-year, close, personal relationship with the MP, who was forced to resign from the party, and from office, in 2018.
Ms Berejiklian told media earlier this week she understood Daryl and Maureen Maguire were separated when they began their relationship.
The ICAC heard Mr Maguire was going through a divorce settlement in early 2018 that was expected to cost about $1 million.
Maureen Maguire.
A local resident, who declined to be named, described Ms Maguire as a "typical politician's wife" who was then "no longer seen" in town.
"The official party line was that they were still good friends," the resident said.
"There were no accusations of infidelity. Everyone just said, 'That's unfortunate, but that's politics, these things happen.' "
Mr Maguire still lives on the family property in Wagga Wagga with his son, James, who faced the public inquiry last week.
James Maguire allegedly called his father's former office to warn staff to destroy or remove documents, after ICAC officers began raiding the Maguire home.
Neighbour Chris Woulfe said he rarely saw Daryl Maguire, who was "pretty well invisible", and that James "pops in" frequently.
In his maiden speech as the newly elected member for Wagga Wagga in 1999, Mr Maguire thanked his former wife and two children, saying his family had never faltered in their support and encouragement, and had worked on his campaign tirelessly.
Daryl Maguire in the ICAC witness box on Wednesday.Credit:Nine
"Throughout the campaign, Maureen worked, as many of your family members did, in the office. She did typing, faxing, cleaning, cooking, preparing press releases, and on the reception desk. You name it, my wife did it," Mr Maguire said.
"As a husband, I am incredibly lucky to have a wife who understands the need in me to pursue issues in this place, and is willing to share her life with me and the public."
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Angus Thompson is an Urban Affairs reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.
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2020-10-14 05:18:00Z
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